George Wylie Clinton was born on March 28, 1859 in Cedar Creek Township, Lancaster County, South Carolina. Clinton received his education from the University of South Carolina, Livingstone College, and Wilberforce University, at the latter place earning his doctor of divinity. He was a bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church for twenty-five years (1896-1921) and was a longtime resident of Charlotte, North Carolina. Clinton died in Charlotte on May 21, 1921.